L
Several management practices are currently being
employed to return these areas to a more native condition. Because fire was a naturally occurring event to maintain grasslands, controlled burning is now used to control
woody invasion and stimulate native plant species once
occurring here. Certain areas are being overseeded with
native grass and forb seed. Some woody vegetation is
being physically removed by chainsaw and used for brushpiles at woodland edges. Brushpiles provide cover for
MANAGEMENT
south across the Kansas River
bridge to Willard. Turn east on
Second Street at the south edge of
Willard and go 0.3 mile east. At
Gilkerson St. go 0.8 mile south.
Green Wildlife Area is on the west
side of the road.
many ground dwelling animals. Previously, the grazing
that occurred in the woodland areas removed many
seedling woody plants at edges of the woodlands.
Area use regulations are posted at the entrance to the
parking area and nature trails. A condition under which
the previous owner donated the property to the
Department of Wildlife and Park's WILDTRUST program
was that fishing, hunting, and trapping be prohibited on
the area. Because of this, only activities such as bird-
home may now be seen near the parking area.
Remnants of farming operations may be seen throughout the area.
The Green Wildlife Area contains many diverse and
fascinating wildlife habitats. The area gives its users the
opportunity to view different plant communities and
the various stages of ecological succession that have
taken place.
The northern part of the area provides eastern deciduous oak-hickory woodlands. Post Creek, running
though the western boundary of the area, provides an
eastern Kansas stream and its associated riparian vegetation. The eastern edges of the area contain what was
originally fingerlike extensions of tallgrass prairie containing native warm-season grasses and forbs. These
areas were disturbed by man's cultivation and overgrazing by livestock, resulting in the invasion of woody
vegetation (primarily Osage orange and honey locust),
cool season exotic grasses, and inedible forbs (increaser plant species).
ry, a chance to observe native
plants and animals in a natural setting, and a brief look at various
management practices being
employed to promote the area's
wildlife habitat. To reach Green
Wildlife Area from Topeka, travel
west on 24 Hwy. to Rossville. Go
The Green Wildlife Area is rich with the history of
Kansas from before statehood. The present site of the
Green Wildlife Area, and the land surrounding it was
once the site of Uniontown. This town was originally
established as a trading post for the Pottawatomie
Indians in 1848, and eventually grew to a population of
300. Uniontown was eventually met by a branch of
every major trail in the area. These included the
California-Oregon Trail, the Fort Leavenworth - Ft.
Riley Road, the Salt Lake City Trail, and the U.S. Mail
Route. Remnants of the Oregon Trail can still be seen
along one of the area's nature trails. Uniontown suffered through two outbreaks of cholera until it was
burned and abandoned in 1859. A cemetery on nearby
private property contains the mass graves of
Uniontown cholera victims.
In the 1870s, the area became the property of the
Green family and was used for agricultural purposes
until the 1960s. The Green family built a home from the
native stone remnants of Uniontown in 1877. The dated
stone that once was laid above the doorway to the
WILDLIFE AREA
ocated west of Topeka near
the town of Willard, the 83acre Green Wildlife Area is a
unique and interesting nongame
area developed and managed by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife
and Parks. This area affords its
users a glimpse of the area's histo-
82
149
35
50
Cottonwood
Falls
56
57
16
9
24
170
31
4
LYON
159
75
73
68
57
59
ANDERSON
169
31
Garnet
MIAMI
68
3
31
7
52
135
Paola
7
Mound
City
LINN
169
35 33
69
JOHNSON
Olathe
32
Lawrence 10
DOUGLAS
59
FRANKLIN
50
Atchison
73
239
52
68
150
435
7
192
Leavenworth
92
59
LEAVENOskaloosa WORTH
635
WYANDOTTE
5
16
24
Kansas
40
City
Ottawa
268
56
Topeka
92
4
JEFFERSON
4
9
36
DONIPHAN
120 Troy
20
7
General Area Map
COFFEY
159
Burlington
75
31
Lyndon
OSAGE
470
Silver
Lake
20
159
73
Holton 116
ATCHISON
75
Hiawatha
BROWN
SHAWNEE
JACKSON
Emporia
Green
Wildlife Area
57
99
WABAUNSEE
Alma
18
63
Willard
70
Westmoreland
62
Seneca
75
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs
described herein is available to all individuals without regard to
race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or handicap.
Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the
Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 900 Jackson
St., Suite 502, Topeka, KS 66612.
05/02
CHASE
150
Council
Grove
177
4
187
NEMAHA
63
POTTAWATOMIE
Manhattan
13
177
16
87
99
NEBRASKA
MARSHALL
36
40
Junction
City
GEARY
113
24
57
177
77
MORRIS
77
RILEY
9
Marysville
77
watching and hiking are allowed. These same activities
are also permitted on Wildlife and Parks wildlife areas
where hunting, fishing, and trapping is permitted.
To provide for the comfort of birdwatchers and hikers,
several benches are provided along the nature trails.
Maps are posted at the trail entrances and numbered
markers are set at items of special interest on the nature
trail. Each numbered trail marker has a brief explanation
contained in the trail guide.
While using the nature trails, you are encouraged to
walk slowly and quietly in order to observe more wildlife.
Binoculars and various field guides are valuable in
observing and identifying area plants and animals.
However, users are not confined to nature trails alone.
Property boundaries are fenced and marked. Remove any
litter observed when using the area even if you did not
bring it in.
The Green Wildlife Area was developed in part with
Nongame Wildlife Program (Chickadee Checkoff) contributions. You can donate to this program on your state
tax return.
MISSOURI
Department Website:
www.kdwp.state.ks.us
KS Dept. of Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 21
Valley Falls, KS 66088
(785) 945-6615 (Area Office)
(785) 273-6740 (Regional Office)
Wildlife Area
G reen
Seasonal Road
Gravel Road
Paved Road
(No Hunting Allowed)
Wildlife Area
Section/County Lines
Towns or Cities
Trails
Parking Area
L E G E N D
P
NW 17th St.
Green
Cemetery
HERBERT REINHARD
GREEN MEMORIAL
WILDLIFE ARE
Willard
Rossville
St.
L
o ui
Kans
Valencia
ay
a s River
u t hw
este
rn R
a il w
8 miles to Topeka
s So
Silver
Lake
WI L D L IF E A R EA
SHAWNEE CO.
Shawnee County
Carlson Rd.
Wabaunsee County
to
I-70
Creek
os t
HERBERT REINHARD
GREEN MEMORIAL
WABANSEE CO.